The Word on the Street

02 Jul 2006

180 fans arrested as England crash out

Police on Sunday said they arrested some 180 football fans before and after England's World Cup quarter-final defeat against Portugal in this western German city.

About 80 supporters, most of them English, were arrested when they went on the rampage downtown and threw objects at the police just after Portugal won the match in a penalty shoot-out.

The other fans were arrested later in the night, or well before the match. By Sunday morning all but about 20 had been released.

Some of those still in detention are likely to face charges, the police said.

"The people we arrested were not hooligans but guys causing trouble and damage because they were unhappy," a police spokesman said.

"We had our hands full, but on the whole things went quite well," said a police spokesman said.

FIFA investigating Rooney red card

England striker Wayne Rooney is to be investigated by FIFA after he was sent off in England's World Cup quarter-final defeat against Portugal.

"Wayne Rooney got a direct red card so he will automatically be suspended," a FIFA spokesman told a media briefing here.

"It will be a disciplinary case and as with any player (who gets a red card), the committee will decide on the penalty."

The Manchester United player was shown a red card after appearing to stamp on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho in the second half of Saturday's match in Gelsenkirchen.

England's 10 men hung on without him but went on to lose in a penalty shootout.

Germany players net record bonus for semi-final spot

Germany stars are already euros in after securing the biggest World Cup bonus in the country's history by reaching the semi-finals of the tournament.

Michael Ballack and company pick up a cool 100,000 euros (127,700 dollar) each for reaching the last four after a penalty shootout win over Argentina on Friday.

Hosts Germany face Italy in Tuesday's semi-final in Dortmund and if they win each player will collect 150,000 euros (191,600 dollar) as a reward for reaching Sunday's final.

A 300,000 euro (383,300 dollar) jackpot is on offer to every player should they help lift a fourth World Cup crown on home soil.

It is more than three times the 92,000 euros (117,500 dollar) Germany players would have collected had they won the 2002 edition in Japan and South Korea.

Klinsmann given five weeks to decide future

Theo Zwanziger, the president of the German Football Federation (DFB), said Sunday that Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann would be given time to consider his future after the World Cup but must make a decision by August 16.

"The only timeframe is our first international against Sweden on August 16," Zwanziger told Bild am Sonntag.

"After the end of the World Cup on July 9, Klinsmann would have five weeks to decide whether he extends his contract."

Klinsmann took over the job in August 2004 and is contracted until the end of the World Cup finals.

The DFB want Klinsmann to sign a two-year extension to guide the team towards Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.

Former Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur striker Klinsmann has admitted he is having a lot of fun in the job but said his family - who are based in the United States - would have the final say.

Media exalt magic France

The French press on Sunday rose as one to hail the team's stunning dismissal of favourites and holders Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals the night before.

"Magic!" screamed L'Equipe on its front page - a line mirrored in Lyon's Le Progres newspaper - "It was like a dream," continued L'Equipe on the inside.

"Monumental!" was the headline in Marseille's La Provence with a picture of Henry swamped by jubilant teammates.

"Fantastic!" exclaimed Grenoble newspaper Dauphine Libere, "France is better than Brazil."

In the west of the country Dimanche Ouest-France proclaimed: "Brilliant, into the semi-finals."

Under a picture of a grinning Henry on the front page, it continued: "They've done it! Les Blues eliminated Brazil last night (Saturday). A historic victory.

"A generation that refuses to give back their jerseys. They will not be stopped. The museum awaits."

Osim to replace Zico for Japan

Former Yugoslav coach Ivica Osim confirmed Sunday that he had been asked to replace Brazilian legend Zico as coach of Japan's national team following their exit from the World Cup in Germany.

The 65-year-old Bosnian, currently coach of Japanese club JEF United Chiba, indicated he was ready to accept a deal and said he hoped to build a team with a style suited to the Japanese players.

"I think I received this offer because of what I've done for Chiba and their players and it's a wonderful thing," Osim said a day after talks with Chiba and Japanese Football Association (JFA) officials.

Osim and the JFA are expected to formally sign a contract early this month at the conclusion of the World Cup, Japanese media reports said.

Violence mars celebrations in France

Violent incidents marred French street celebrations early Sunday following France's 1-0 win over World Cup champions Brazil, with police firing teargas at bottle-hurling youths in central Paris.

Paris police said that some people sustained injuries after being hit by flying bottles and other projectiles along the French capital's famous Champs-Elysees where there were 20 arrests.

At least two vehicles were torched in the violence, Paris police told AFP.

The violence broke out at around 1:00 am (midnight) after two hours of peaceful celebrations following the victory in Germany.

The atmosphere deteriorated while thousands celebrated the win on the celebrated street between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde.

Dozens of youths hurled bottles, stones and other projectiles at police who responded with teargas.

Bookies clean up on England defeat

Bookies cleaned up as British punters put some 50 million euros on the outcome of the England versus Portugal encounter, according to William Hill.

"It is not unrealistic to believe that this was the biggest ever betting event featuring the England team," spokesman Graham Sharpe said.

"Sadly for all patriotic punters it was also the biggest ever losing match for backers of England, Sharpe said, saying England's exit was worth some 25 million pounds (40 million euros, 50 million dollars) to the betting industry.

One businessman reportedly lost 200,000 pounds after backing Sven-Goran Eriksson's men to lift the World Cup.

British press bids good riddance to Sven

Major British newspapers looked for a silver lining following the collapse of England's World Cup dreams, and easily found it in the fact that manager Sven Goren Eriksson is on his way out.

"It all ends in tears... but at least there's no more Sven," crowed the headline on the front page of the Mail on Sunday.

"England were beaten by an inherently inferior team," wrote Patrick Collins, the Mail's man in Gelsenkirchen.

"Of course, the players must answer for their faults, but ultimately the coach deserves a major share of the blame... As he leaves the England job, he may reflect that, this time, his critics were correct."

The News of the World bemoaned the "same old penalty pain" -- England losing the fifth of its six penalty shootouts in the last 16 years.

Cristiano Ronaldo confirms Real Madrid interest

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed Sunday that he is a target for Real Madrid, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola.

The 21-year-old, who scored the decisive penalty for Portugal in their World Cup quarter-final victory over England Saturday, was asked whether it was true he was being pursued by the Spanish giants.

"Yes, it's true," he replied. "But I will only make a comment on that after the World Cup. Now is not the time to do it."

Earlier in the week, Real Madrid presidential candidate Juan Miguel Villar Mir had said he would bring Ronaldo to the Bernabeu if he wins the election.

The English Premiership club responded by describing that as nothing more than electioneering.

"Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a long-term contract with Manchester United, which runs until 2010. He will be a Manchester United player next season," said the club in a statement.

"Bitter" Australian defender calls for cheat clampdown

Australian defender Lucas Neill has called for a clampdown on cheating players after a hotly-disputed penalty to Italy ended the Socceroo's World Cup campaign in the second round.

After returning to Australia late Saturday, Neill said he remained "very bitter" about the last-minute penalty awarded against him for allegedly fouling Italy's Fabio Grosso in the June 26 second-round clash.

"Everyone in the world knows it happens and everyone in the world says they are trying to change the rules to get rid of cheating and diving and all this feigning injury and getting other players booked by making gestures," Neill said. "But it never stops."

"I had to hold back the tears on the field because I knew if I started I wouldn't stop," said the central defender.